Machine for expanding metal.



P'ATENTED MAY 1, 1906- ,H. E. WHITE. MACHINE FOR EXPANDING METAL. APPLICATION ILED JUIF24 1905 3 SHEETS-SHEET 1. i

' Inventqr:

Hamserr E.WHITE yMwwx, N ys.

' No. 819,484. PATENTED MAY 1, 1906 1 H. E. WHITE. MACHINE. FOR EXPANDING METAL.

APPLIUATION FILED JUNE 24, 1905.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2;

I Inventor: I "HERBERT EWHI'TE PATENTED MAY 1, 1906.

'H. E. WHITE.

MACHINE FOR EXPANDING METAL.

APPLICATION FILED JUNB24, 1905.

(III! .IIIIIIIII,

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

lnvento r: H B RT E-WH ITE.

, inafter appear; and to these ends the inven-- UNITED sTAT s PATENT. OFFICE.

HERBERT E. WHITE, OF YOUNGSTOWNOHIO, ASSI GN OR TOTHE GENERAL FIREPROOFING COMPANY, or or omo.

YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO, A CORPORATION r Specification of Letters Patent.

MACHINE FOR EXPANDING METAL- 1 Patented my 1, 1906.

g Application filed June24, 1905. Serial No. 266,754.

To all whom, it may concern):

Be it known that I, HERBERT E. WHITE, a

citizen of the United States, and a resident of' Youngstown, Ohio, have invented certain.

new and useful Improvements, in Machines for Making Expanded Metalpof which the following drawings. v

. This invention relates to machines for making expanded metal for laths and other uses; and the objects of the invention are to improve upon such machines andenable a reticulated or mesh-like structure to be formed from a plate ofcorrugated metal 1nstead of from a flat sheet of metal, as heretofore. m-

' v Further objects of theinvention will heretion consists of a; machinefor carrying out the above objects embodying the features of construction, combinations, of elements," and arrangement of parts havin the general mode of operation substantial y ash'ereinafter fully described and claimed in this speci-- fication and shown in the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a machine embodying the invention after-"two strokes have been made. Fig. 2. is a similar view after the third stroke has been'made. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional elevation. of the machine on the line as a: of Fig. 1.

The prior methods of making expanded sheet metal have required either the slitting to be separate from the expanding or openmg or a simultaneous slitting and bending of portions of the metal not in the same straight ne of slits or the severe stretching of the metal itself to permittwo sides of the mesh to be formed while the other two sides remain in the original-plane of the flat sheet. The process carried out by the present invention seeks to obviate all this by providing in a preliminar step such a change in the form of themeta as will permit adequate provision for the displacing of the metalfrom the general plane of the sheettreated, so as to form part of themesh without stretching the -metal itself and without disturbing the portions of the mesh to be subsequently ormed.

Briefly stated, my present way of treating the metal consists in first crimping, corrugatis a specification accompanied by andexpanding of themetal without material stretch is by corrugating the metal regularly in a dire'ctionatright angles to the slits that are tobe formed. Preferably also the corrugations should be spaced to correspond one with each row of joints where the adjacent rows of strands are united. I This will be clear from the portion of the expanded sheet shown seen thatthe hollows of the corrugations of the unexpanded sheet A are shown corresponding with thejoints or points of union of t e expanded portion. The degree of corrugation should be calculated so that the original length of the sheet before corrugaone strand as measured along its curves. The degree of corrugation or crimping is therefore dependent on the degree which it is desired to 0 enthe slits to form the meshes. The linea length measured along two corrugationsshould' correspond to thelength along the edge of onecutter. 'The corrulength as measured across the corrugations with the final length of the expanded sheet. According to this rocessthere is no necessity of stretchin t e metal. I Referrin to t e drawings, the framework j of the mac 'ne "consists of the end housings B, the top yokeA, and the lower yoke C, which latter part also serves as a feed-table .and lower-bladetcarrier, the lower or corrugated blades U being suitably bolted thereto.

represents the sheet of corrugated metal which 1s to be expanded, and suitable means margin requisite for the simultaneouscutting' tion shall correspond with the final length of 7 ing, or otherwise shortening the sheet so as to provide substantially for the formation of in the machine in Fig.2, wherein it will be gatedor shortenedsheet will correspond in are provided for feeding the sheet forward and for expanding the same.

U represents the upper cutter-blades suitabl carried by the ram D which is ada ted to be reciprocated vertically to cut an expand the metal and also s ifted across the sheet to produce the requisite strands or reticulated meshwork.

The crank-shaft A and crank A actuate the parallel links K by means of the connecting-rod B, thereby imparting a reciprocating longitudinal motion to the links K, which in turn operate to make and, break the pairs of tog le-links I and H, pivotally connected to the links K by the pins L. The links I and H are also pivotally connected to the housing A by pins E and to the ram D by pins D. The longitudinal motion imparted to the links K makes and breaks the toggle-acting joints described and reduces a vertical reciprocating motion 0 the ram D, which, as stated, carries the cutter-blades U.

The ram D is retained between the clamp E and the brace F'to prevent it from swinging sidewise, and the mechanical construction is such that the movement of the ram D operates both the clamp E to clamp the corrugated sheet during the cutting and expanding action and also controls the feeding forward of the sheet between strokes.

1 shows the machine after two strokes have-been made with the mechanism in readiness for a third stroke. As the shaft A revolves the links K will be drawn to the right,

thereby depressing the ram until the toggle.- linksare in a substantially straight line; at which point the ram D will'obviously be at its lowermost position. The stroke of the crank A is suchthat thepins L are not at their-extreme position when the ram D is at its extreme position or'so that the ram will be all the way down when the crank has 1 made a little less than one-quarter of are/volution. As the central pins L offlthe tog les are drawn farther tothe right theram- D. egins to lift and at the same time moves tothe right until it strikes against "the bearing-piece C, which limits its longitudinal motion,the

amount of play between the bearing-piece C and the end of the ram D being the proper distance the ram is to shift, which should be I one-half of the length of a tooth on the upper cutter U.- As the shaft continues to revolve the ram is. lifted to its extreme height, as shown-in Fi 2,. in'which position it is ready for the fourt stroke or return stroke. At the other end of the machine there is a similar bearing-piece C, which limits the longitudinal motion of the ram in the other, direction. The uncut edge of the corrugated sheet Mprojects beyond the corrugated cutters U a distance equal to the thickness of the'strands to be cut, and the descent of the upper cutter U slits and expands the sheet-into the reticulated form shown in Fig. 2. As-the ram D lifts it QOHIBS in contact with the pins G, projectiiliig over-the top ofthe ram from the clamp thereby lifting the clamp and releasing the sheet, so that it may be fed forward between rubber spring, and is carriedjupon a bolt or rod R, connected to a lug P on the clamp.

The clamp'in lifting also operates the sheetfeeding mechanism; Asshown, the clamp E is' connected to an arm T by means of a pin T, projecting through the right-hand housing B. The arm T is pivotally connected with the arm Z, which is free to swing on the shaft V, to which is connected to rotate therewith the ratchet-wheel X, actuated by the pawl Y, pivoted to the arm Z. As the clamp E moves upward it will be seen that the arm T is raised, which draws the arm Z upward and actuates the ratchet-wheel X by means of the pawl Y. Attached to the shaft V are two sprocket-wheels W, over which ass chains S,-which are carriedat the back 0 the machine by other similar sprocket-wheels on the shaft Q. Attached to the chains is the feeding-bridge P, which pushes the sheet M forward at each lift of the clamp by means of the fingers N, pivoted to the brackets O.

Obviously some features of this invention may be-u'sed without others, and the invention may be embodied in widely-varying forms.

Therefore, without limiting the invention to the devices shown and described and without enumerating equivalents, I claim, and de sire to obtain by Letters Patent, the followin 1. In a machine for making expanded metal, the combination of means for suitably supporting a sheet of metal corrugated to expand with the opening or ex ansion with the corrugated edge projecting eyond the support, and-means for slitting and expanding or opening the metal, one ine of slits after lIO another along the corrugated edge presented at the edge of the support,'thereby straightening the corrugations, leaving unsevered joints or connections between the rows of strands so formed. j

2. In a machine for making expanded metal, the combination of means for suitably ing the sheet in like manner in places alterandforming otherrows in like manner, leaving uncut connections between the strands of adjacent rows. v

3. In-- a machine for making expanded metal, the combination of means for suitably supporting a sheet of metal, corru ated in a manner to shorten it in the directlon of the slits to,be formed with the corrugated edge projecting beyond the support, means for simultaneously slitting and bending portions of the sheet along the corru ated edge in such manner as to substantia 1y straighten out the corrugations in the strands so formed, while leaving such strands connected to the body of the sheet between such slits, and means for simultaneously slittingand bendnateto the first-mentioned portions, thus producing the finished: ex anded sheet metal of substantially the same engthas-thecorrugated-or shortened sheet; I v 4. In a machi'e for making. expanded metal, the combination with means for suitably supporting a corrugated sheet in posi tion to be expanded with the corrugatedbeyond the supportyand means for simu taneously slitting and open ing portions of thesheet along the corru;

edge projectin gated edge presented beyond the support thereby straightening the corrugations to form meshes or art meshes.

5. In a macdii metal, the combination with means for suitably supportin 'a sheet of metal corru ated or crimped to s 'orten the sheet in the irection of the slits to be formed with the corrugated edge presented beyondthe support, thereby straightening the corrugations to form an open or reticulated expanded structure without substantial stretching of the metal itself'.-

6. In a machine for expanding sheet metal, the combination of means for sup orting a corrugated sheet of metal witht e corru gated edge continuously presented beyond the support, and means for slitting and expanding the sheet in a direction substantially at right angles to the general plane of the sheet and transversely to the corrugations along the corru atededge continuously presented to. the s ittin and expanding means, thereby straightemng out the corrugations. s s

7 In a-machine for expandingsheet metal, 1

the combination of "meansfor supporting a corrugated sheet of metal with t e corrugated edge continually presented beyond the support, and means for slitting and expand- 8. In a machine for expanding sheet metal,

the combination of means for supporting a ne for making expanded-- out and-ex andcd with the corrugated edge projecting eyond the support, a reciprocatmg cutter arrangedtos t and expand the projecting corrugated edge of the sheet transversely-to the corrugations thereby straightening out the corrugations, means tep feeding the sheet between strokes and means for shifting the cutter transversely after each stroke.

9. In a machine for expanding sheet metal, the combination of means for suitably sup porting a-sheet of corrugated metal in position to be cut and expanded with the corrugated edge projecting beyond the support, a reciprocatin cutter adapted to cut, expand the sheet a ong the corrugated edge and straighten the corrugations, means for shifting said cutter transversely to the direction of reciprocation, and a clamp for holding the sheet and preventing feeding.

I 10. In a machine for expanding sheet metal, the combination of a corrugated die for su porting a corrugated sheet of metal, with t e corrugated edge projecting beyond the die and a toothed cutter adapted to cut and expand the sheet of metaltransversely to the corrugationsalong the said projecting edge andithereby straighten out the corrugations.

11. In a machine for expanding sheet metal, the combination withthe corrugated die or cutter for supporting the sheet in position to be cut and expanded with the corrugated edge projecting beyond the edge of the die, and a toothed cutter having a reciprocating movement in two directions at an angle to each other and adapted to cut and expand the sheet. of metal along the projecting corrugated edge in a direction transverse to the corrugations and thereby straighten out the corrugations.

corriggatedbheetdn suitable position to be 12. In a machine for expanding metal, the t combination of means for supporting acorrugated sheet of metal in position to be cut and expanded with the corrugated edge projecting beyond the support, and means for cutting and expanding said sheet in a direction transverse to the corrugations along the corrugated edge thereby straightening out the corrugations without shortening the sheet and without substantially metalQ- j 1'3. In amachine for expanding metal, the

combination of a corrugated die for supporting a sheet of corru ated metal in position to be cut and expan ed with the corrugated edge projecting beyond the die, and a toothed cutter adapte tocooperate with the corrugated die andconstructed to cut and expand the metal along the corrugated edge without shortening the sheet and without substantially stretching the metal.

stretching the 14. Ina machine for expanding metal,

means forjcutting and expanding a corrurel-9,484

straightenin out the corrugations withou shortening t e-sheet and without substar 5 tially stretching the-metal.

In testimony whereof I have signed thi specification in: the presence of two subscril: .ing Witnesses.

HERBERT WHITE. lWitnesses: i

V OPD. KAISER,

H. T. SMITH. 

